Re: Making a FEDeral case

[P3D Joel Alpers <joel.alpers@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Vince Macek writes:

> 
> I just got my first real test roll back from my new FED.  Anyone want to
> say I told you so?  The line forms here :^)

Not me. ;)
 
> I knew the rep this camera had going in, and this one lives up to it; I
> have a real case of underexposure and synch is easily a full stop off (this
> in autoexposure mode; the flash shots look fine to my eyes)
> 
> I was resetting the ASA dial to compensate, but the whole point of the
> purchase, faster shutter speeds than my trusty Realist, is lost if I have
> to stop it down so far!

Well, if this helps, you are really not stopping anything down by doing
this.
The problem is that the camera is underexposing, the trick is to find an
exposure dial setting that gives correct exposure for the film you are 
using. As long as the exposures are --matched-- left-to-right, you are
committing no sin. 

Look at it this way - the proper exposure for a sunny day and a midtoned
subject for ISO 100 film is 1/100 @ f/16. If you set your FED dial at
ISO 100, it is way (say 2 stops) underexposed. That means the FED is 
-really- choosing something like 1/200 @ f/32 (for example). By changing
the dial (in this example) to ASA 400, you can force the camera to
use the correct exposure for the scene.

> This said, I can see this camera could still be a nice piece of work if
> anyone can adjust/repair these defects.  I'll check RMM ASAP; anyone got
> any other places to recommend?

Vince, I got your message there as well, but in hoping this might be of
more general interest:  I'd recommend you check KievUSA at:

  http://members.aol.com/kievusa/index.html

I have -heard- that they do FED stereo repair. I have not talked with
them in person, and cannot recommend them, but it seems like a good
start.
Here's their entry in the "3D Yellow Pages". I believe you want
to contact Saul Kaminsky there:

Kiev/USA

(division of Lens Exchange)
535 E. Putnam Ave
Cos Cobb, CT 06807

Phone: (203) 869-3883

Repairs on FED stereo cameras. 


Hope this helps....

Joel Alpers
Rocky Mountain Memories
http://www.frii.com/~rkymtmem


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